AMEN. Sweat needs to go, without a doubt. In my opinion, they’re all guilty, either by design or as a witness and participant to this absurd course of events without making it right. They should be taken to task.

Sam did not create these programs. They existed long before he moved to the county office. He is just trying to clean the mess up!! Really, if you want to blame someone, blame previous board members (Greg) and board member's husbands that were in deals together with developers concerning neighborhoods to feed into new elementary schools.

The process got fouled up when they built 2 new elementary schools that we don't need. Now, we are not receiving full state funding for schools that are not at capacity. The school system has to do something. They are running out of money and now have two new schools to open. But the real reason people want East Fayette to stay open is no want "those" kids to attend their schools.

What a rude comment about East Fayette's kids and families! Are you implying that school is of one race that you moved to the south end of Fayette Co. to get away from? Believe it or not, East Fayette is, and has been, overwhelmingly majority white for at least the last 11 years. I do know this - I have lived in the area for those 11 years and my surrounding neighborhoods, along with my own children, went there.

Have you ever stepped a foot inside East Fayette? I have, and I've been all around the inside of Brooks Elem., too. Just comparing the facilities, East Fayette is in much better physical shape than Brooks Elem. Sure, the BOE just spent big bucks in 2004 expanding and making E. Fayette's kitchen state-of-the-art, but Brooks is cramped and has maybe 8 or 10 parking places in front, and most of those are for their Admin. I think there are 4 Visitor parking spaces.

I don't know what year Brooks Elem. was built, and I've read East Fayette was built in 1952 or so, but Brooks is a much smaller and cramped facility.

I think Brooks should be closed before another school in the county. Can you imagine all the squealing from those parents in the south end of the county if that were to be proposed? I say close "them" down.

I am just stating what everyone is stating. For your info, my children went to East Fayette and I had one at Hood! We loved it! East Fayette is needed for the alternate schools and the psycho-educational school.

E. Fayette is not needed for an alternative school or for a "psycho-educational school" (whatever that is)

The fact is that at the meeting on 11/26, the lady who spoke regarding what programs they would put in there almost seemed to be making it up on the fly.

If the board wants to close it at a later date THEY NEED TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK FIRST!!

I just hope that they actually take a vote on the maps at the meeting tomorrow night!

Git 'er done!!

East Fayette is needed to house the special programs. The LEC doesn't have to room with all the county office personnel to house these programs.

I would say based on your log in Brooks Parent, that you don't really have the right to say the real reason people want East Fayette to stay open is no one want "those" kids to attend their schools. You don't run the risk of if East Fayette is closed that your school Brooks will be effects by a change of 50% or more of the kids being moved. Your school Brooks will remain what it is this year. So don't make judgements on others that would like to see their school remain the same too. But the main point is that the BOE ask for tax payers to vote in 2004 for improvement money for East Fayette and 2.5 million dollars have been spent, let those children continue to enjoy the updates that have been done so far and let the BOE continue to make updates. Board members need to make the right decision and keep East Fayette open and do what you ask the tax payers for and spend the bond money as you STATED you would which DIDNOT include CLOSING a school. If they close East Fayette maybe the BOE will send some of the East Fayette kids to your school so all will not be be send to the other schools, let equally send them to all schools.

Fact...I was there at every meeting. No one made a statement about 2.5 million. Another fact, 2.5 is ONE MILLION more dollars. If a person says - what's the difference between 2.5 and 1.5 - they are just fooling themselves and trying to persuade others to their opinion. I'm sure every tax payer in this county would love to save One Million dollars due to sound spending/cost cutting decisions.

Please break it down for us. I do believe the number was 1.5 million (900,000 kitchen; 350,000 AC/Heating; 250,000 upgrades).

Curious why 2.5 million keeps being thrown out there? To inflate the actual numbers...or just misinformation...etc.

It was stated several times at the board meeting, did you attend any of them?

Does it really matter whether it was 1.5 or 2.5 million dollars? It's still a heck of a lot of tax payer $$ to just close or repurpose it.

Why does Hopeful not want to be around children from E. Fayette?

By the way, E. Fayette is not "closing" it is still being used - just for another purpose. In 2004 this county was selling homes by the hundreds, now that is over & we are building schools that are going to be empty. How was the Board to know in 2004 the housing market would crash? Why not use E. Fayette for another purpose? A needed purpose. Just so Lakeside & Lakemont can stay together?

Also, we can make money by renting out classroom space for local colleges and groups.

Why not use E. Fayette for another purpose? A needed purpose

E. Fayette is and will always be needed as a Elementary school. It's about the only place in Fayetteville with affordable starter homes and in these homes are usually young kids. And as Hopeful stated...we recently spent 2.5 million on upgrades. Let's get use out of them. And using E. Fayette for another needed purpose? What is so needed about a 2nd alternative school (since some of this school will stay at the LEC)Do we really need a brand new kitchen to train the workers in? Give
me a break!!

Whatever map is decided on, my child will stay put. I only hope that the B of E keeps referring back to what the bond referendum stated. Let's hope that E. Fayette stays open!!

Come on, are we really expected to believe that Fayette County now needs not one, but two alternative schools? I wonder how many people realize that the number of students that would attend E. Fayette, if it were repurposed to an alternative school, is a mere 40! At the board meeting, the BOE representative stated that only those students who attend alternative school mandatorily would attend the E. Fayette facility. Students who attend alternative school voluntarily would remain at LEC. So, we're talking about using an entire elementary school for 40 students and some lunchroom trainees. This is a poor solution to this BOE's very poor planning.

Did you hear the BOE person try to come up with ways to use East Fayette for reperposing, she could not give good reasons or ways that the whole school would be using, the board kept calling her on the fact that MOST ALL ROOMS said OPEN, use the bond money for the purpose it was to be used for a elementary school. If the board members want to be voted back in next year they better pick a map that KEEPS EAST FAYETTE open, look at the poll numbers and the majority at the public forum ask that the board keep the school open all for good reason, the LEC does not and did not have a plan in place for East Fayette. Does any one remember the professor from Clayton State College and University, she stated she has wrote books and done many staudies on ISOLATING the children that are put in alternative schools this has been found to be a bad idea. Board members think about how your decision could effect those children, the numbers might be small but it still could be bad. Spend the bond money how you promised the votes you would. When in the future the county BOE decides a school needs to be retired do the studies needed to pick the correct location and take the school complete out of use, don't try to repurpose. If what another person stated about Clayton County happens Fayette county will need all schools open to help with the number of students.

Do you want the alternative kids in school with your children?

Mrs. Sam Sweat wears the pants

Why would we spend the money for upgrades in a school then propose to close it? Why would we then spend our tax dollars to build 2 new schools to close one? If someone was using their own check book, would they make this same decision?

Get used to it linsi. In Peachtree City, Bob Lenox built a police station on acres of buried garbage, and the Tyrone Council got the county government to give up a rec site in their area only to let it go into disrepair. So spending money on upgrades to a school that will be torn down is par for the course.

The problem with the FCBOE is we gave them too much bond money and they are like kids in a candy store. I can't wait to see Janet Smola voted out of office.

"I'm NOT John Munford"

There is truth to it in some situations. Young families build communities, and young families look for good schools. All things being equal, you and your spouse have narrowed down your home choice to two homes. Similar homes, similar neighborhood feel, both in Fayette. Both schools are good, but one home is in a community whose schools have discounted or free lunches, and the other one does not have free lunches. Which would you buy? Come on.

Sounds like you have a great Realtor! If you have a house that could "potential of losing 200K", then you should be intelligent enough to understand a simple concept…. County growth. Since you cannot understand it let me explain... I county with WONDERFUL SCHOOLS (yes, all of them... look at State testing stats if you don't believe me) has more people move in to attend these great schools. The county has to build more schools to accommodate and a little thing called "redistricting" happens. This is where EVERYONE in a county runs the risk of having their child be relocated from ONE GREAT SCHOOL TO ANOTHER. If you don't want to ever experience this, move to a county with minimal population growth and only one elementary school. Now your entire family can attend the same school for the rest of your child-rearing years. Now when they are adults and face "change" (gasp for air- heaven forbid!) they will not know how to handle this. Please consider the children of East Fayette attending classes in a 50+ year old building before you start whining about your child having the benefit of attending yet another GREAT school (once again, if you don't believe me, look up testing results at the GADOE website).

They all drink developer Kool-aid and have no real leadership or research tools of their own.

But a claim by some woman (has to be a woman) that she lost $200k or 1/3 the value of a $600,000 house? That's absurd! No one has ever lost a penny of value because their kids had to go to a different school.

If that were even possibly true, then someone would have sued the school board and maybe their Realtor years ago. Problem with that is you have to offer proof and the only proof of a stupid statement like that is the damaged party would have to sell or appraise her house at $200k less than the identical house in another school district. Can't happen, never did happen, never will happen. Just hysterical crap from an uninformed bleeding heart.

Why would you automatically assume that the comment you are responding to was made by a woman? Are you that idiotic to think that only women make stupid comments? It is obvious that you are just as stupid as the person that wrote the first comment!

When you children go to public school & you are in a county school system redistricting is a real possibility. Unless you live inside the school you can be moved to balance enrollments. Even neighborhoods 2/10 of a mile from a school are at risk for movement. The only way to make sure what school you child attends is to go to private. Redistricting is an issue in many cities, it is not unique to Fayette County. It has been a long time coming in this county. Some of these schools have been overcrowded for years. I don't think the committee made any "arbitrary" decisions. I went to a lot of the meetings & saw how much weight was put into each decision they made. Most of the committee members were there for the good of the whole county & did the best they could for their own schools. Fayette County schools are the best & will be even better after all this is done.

How can a neighborhood 1/20 of a mile from the school be subject to redistricting? That reeks of bad planning.

I have watched the entire redistricting process since day one and it has appeared as though CW and Sweat were steering the agenda and the committee to develop the options that have been presented. The consultant was not allowed to attend and interact with the committee until the end.

From what I can see, Sweat and CW are using the committee of volunteers as the scapegoat for the process if it is not the popular decision or if the BOE is not happy with the options Sweat and CW will point their fingers at the committee. The committee's hard work will not be the guiding factors in the BOE's redistricting decision. They will do what ever makes their constituency happy and gets them re-elected.

This whole process was a waste of time and a way to point the finger at someone else if it blows up in their face.

Even neighborhoods 2/10 of a mile from a school are at risk for movement.

Presently these children WALK/RIDE BIKES, SCOOTERS...to school. Bus service was terminated as it should have been!! Do we, as tax payers, really want to redistrict these kids and have to PAY up the ying-yang for the fuel to run these buses??? I don't know about you, but I sure don't!!!

Does anyone else think it is absurd that a family who moves in the subdivision next to the local elementary school should have to be bused to another school at least twice as far away?

When you are proposing to move 50% of the students to a new school, somebody screwed up. Where was the planning with the FCBOE?

I have to agree with "Jones". The redistricting plans and proposals in Fayette County over the past several years have been disappointing at best. One expects that the members of the school board have the ability and talent to strategically plan. I have found over the past 5 or so years that it is apparent that the board is missing this skill. If the redistricting proposals that I have seen over the past several years were presented in the "real business world" these folks would be out of a job. The proposals and recent moves have been very short sighted in nature, requiring redistricting again and again, many times impacting the same neighborhoods. Do we need new board members who have the capability to effectively project needs and plan accordingly, then communicate the long term plan effectively? I believe so.

Was at McIntosh High at 6:25 to sign up to speak and asked directions to the gym. Someone at the school told her the meeting was at Whitewater. By the time she went to Whitewater High and back it was after 7PM. COMPASSION was used....something more people need to learn how to use during this trying time for all involved in the redistricting process.

East Fayette Redistricting Meeting
Submitted by Robert G. Fuhrman on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 8:00am.
Concerning the issue of the last speaker. Politics is politics! When becoming involved in politics the rules must be followed, however there is preparation for the political that can only be learned through experience. The politician must be ready for all circumstances i.e. know your opposition and be ready for any situation. The chair has the ability to rule by their position of authority so be ready to counter this fact of politics " - They can't do that DID THEY"! - Your option if the rules are broken are you can always SUE if you have the energy, so be ready, be prepared while the meeting is still in session. There are provisions within Robert's Rules of Order to Challenge the Chair by the Body Politic. When this person in question spoke the persons in attendence, any person, at any time without recognition from the chair, could have stated, "I challenge the chair'. Then there is protocol in Robert's Rules of Order to proceed with the challenge.

Did you honestly think they would play fair?

I attended the forum and saw the same thing happen. My first thought was the same as your and I'm sure LOTS of other that attended thought the same "a plant from Sam" I as did most other parents there changed plans, move schedules, got babysitters to arrive BEFORE 7:00pm to sign up to speak. We followed the rules. When are the board members going to see that there are so many inconsistent statements or facts left out in what has been presented. I attended the meeting with the committee where Sam Sweat had Mike Satterfield Facilities Director speak and it seemed he was limited in what he was able to say. Where at the meeting on Monday November 26th when the board member were able to question him, there was several points he brought up that changed the minds of two committee members that East Fayette should remain OPEN, maybe other that did not speak up based on information he was able to give. It time that the board see that the "rule breaking lady" was Sam Sweats last effort to get East Fayette closed. Did the board listen to the public, I would say more are for East Fayette remaining a Elementary school. Please board members listen to the majority of the public KEEP EAST FAYETTE OPEN.

Regarding the bad information about map B taking one evening to work on - it took more than one evening. I was there, I saw how many nights (more than 1 or 2)it took. There was much less area the committee had to work on for the 2nd map. Much of the maps are the same. They concentrated on 2 areas and were able to finish their 2nd map in less time. The 2nd map has fewer schools at capacity in 5 years and has the Peachtree City area very balanced. I heard 1 committee member say once the learning curve on how to work with the numbers and maps was achieved, they really could work much quicker. Map B is a great map & I hope the Board of Education votes for it (should they decide not to re-purpose E. Fayette). I know some people would like to vote on a map, but that is why you vote in (or out) the elected Board of Education members.

You mean we can vote on it?
If we can't, what is the point of all these meetings?
Let em send em where they want to as long as people who can throw a rock at their school are given a special consideration.

We should be able to vote on it! They are our children and our tax dollars. We, as parents, are told to be consistent and provide a routine for our children, yet, when it applies to the FCBOE continuity of education is being thrown out the window. We, as TAXPAYERS,have had $2.5 million dollars of our tax money spent on East Fayette over the last six years to upgrade and renovate and it will ALL BE WASTED if East Fayette is closed or converted or repurposed. The taxpayers and parents of Fayette County should have more of a say than anybody on this issue! Neither one of these maps is acceptable as is. There is no reason to shift the entire population of students in Fayette County to fill up one new school. Let's stick with the FCBOE's stated goal of "disrupting as few students as possible".